HOWARD Johnson has thanked the County Durham countryside for turning Inglis Drever into his third Cheltenham champion of the week.

The Crook-based trainer landed one of the biggest prizes of his career yesterday when the Graham Wylie-owned jumper beat hot favourite Baracouda to win the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on the penultimate day of the festival.

The success completed a remarkable three days for Johnson, with Arcalis and No Refuge already having entered the winners' enclosure this week.

Despite jumping the penultimate flight in sixth place, Inglis Drever had edged in front by the time he negotiated the last under Ingleby Barwick-based jockey Graham Lee.

And, while Baracouda battled bravely in search of a third stayers' crown, the 5-1 shot handled Cheltenham's famous hill to see out the race in style.

"I never usually shake," said Johnson, who is responsible for more than 150 horses as well as running a farm that can boast some 600 cows. "But watching that race today made me shake a little bit because I love this horse.

"He jumped as straight as a die and Graham gave him a lovely ride. All credit to the staff at home and the girl who does him.

"I knew he'd come up the hill. We've got one that's high and steep at home. When he's on form he goes up our hill great.

"That's the secret about training our horses - going up steep hills. It seems to get their wind right and helps them be fit and healthy.

"I knew he was well when I saddled him up. We call him Popeye at home and when his eyes were popping right out I knew it was a good sign."

Johnson's successes have elevated him to the kind of status that had previously been reserved for racing grandees such as Martin Pipe, Paul Nicholls and Philip Hobbs.

He started the week without a Festival winner but, thanks to a massive investment from multi-millionaire Wylie, can now boast a string of horses that is likely to ensure more victories in the future.

"It's been a dream since we first arrived at Cheltenham on Tuesday morning," he said. "It's quite hard to take it all in."

There could be more reason to celebrate today as Johnson will saddle four more hopefuls on the Festival's final day.

Promising four-year-old Akilak - co-owned by Newcastle striker Alan Shearer - looks the likeliest winner in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Bewleys Berry is currently an 11-2 shot in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle, while outsider Another Dude will look to finish the week with a flourish in the last race of the day, the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle.

Johnson's most high-profile mount comes in the Cheltenham Gold Cup - the blue riband of National Hunt racing - although Grey Abbey will only run if the going is not too fast.

The 11-year-old was last seen winning at Cheltenham in January when taking the Pillar Property Chase but, while a Gold Cup win would trump everything else that has happened this week, Johnson will not be taking any unnecessary risks with a horse that has been suffering from a swollen joint.

"He is on his way down here and I will take a look at him to see if his legs have cooled down, he said.

"If I am not happy with him, then I won't run him.

"He is in very good order, and he worked well up a hill (yesterday). The key to it is the ground, and if it is good, he will run - but it must be safe."

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